As global agencies warn of “an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to attacks on civilians and health facilities, all leaders have been urged to speak out against hate speech.
“Dehumanising language that incites violence is never acceptable. I call on all leaders to speak out against antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry and hate speech of all kinds,” said Antonio Guterre, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Meanwhile, reports are emerging in Australia and elsewhere of an upsurge of threats, abuse and violence against Jewish and Arabic communities.
Grave fears are held for the safety of more than two million people in Gaza – including large numbers of children – who are dealing with the loss of essential services including water and power, on top of traumatic dispossession and devastating airstrikes.
“An unprecedented catastrophe is unfolding before our eyes. Gaza is being strangled and the world seems to have lost its humanity,” according to a statement on 18 October from UNRWA, the largest aid agency in the Gaza Strip.
“Every hour we receive more and more desperate calls for help from people across the Gaza Strip. Thousands of civilians were killed over the last 12 days, including women and children.
“At least one million people were forced to flee their homes in just one week. Over half a million displaced persons are sheltering in our schools and other premises in the south of Gaza. An unknown number of people, whom UNRWA is no longer able to assist, remain on our premises in the northern part of the Strip.
“UNRWA has tragically lost 14 staff members until now and most of our 13,000 staff in Gaza are displaced.
“Not one shipment of aid has been allowed into the Gaza Strip since the start of this conflict due to the full siege imposed. People are forced to drink water that is not suitable for consumption, as clean potable water is simply not available. Stocks of food, hygiene material and medicine are rapidly dwindling. We are on the brink of a major health and sanitation crisis.”
Health services
Global health leaders have condemned attacks on health services, most recently a blast – whose cause is still to be verified according to this detailed BBC investigation – which is reported to have killed more than 400 people at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital (often called the Baptist Hospital) in the north of the Gaza Strip.
A UNRWA school sheltering 4,000 internally displaced persons was also hit on 17 October, with at least six people killed and dozens injured.
The World Health Organization condemned the attack on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, which was operational, with patients, health and care givers, and internally displaced people sheltering there.
“The hospital was one of 20 in the north of the Gaza Strip facing evacuation orders from the Israeli military,” the WHO said.
“The order for evacuation has been impossible to carry out given the current insecurity, critical condition of many patients, and lack of ambulances, staff, health system bed capacity, and alternative shelter for those displaced. WHO calls for the immediate active protection of civilians and health care. Evacuation orders must be reversed.
“International humanitarian law must be abided by, which means health care must be actively protected and never targeted.”
Dr Christos Christou, International President of MSF and a surgeon, said on 17 October that the situation in Gaza is “horrific and catastrophic”.
“Those hospitals and clinics that have not been evacuated are overwhelmed and are barely functioning. No electricity, no medical supplies. Surgeons in Al-Shifa hospital are now operating without painkillers.”
The Medical Association for Prevention of War Australia said the attack on al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City is “unconscionable and must be condemned as a war crime”, and urged the Australian Government to speak up for Palestinian citizens.
“While MAPW welcomes the Government’s call for Israel to follow the rules of war, we deeply regret that the Government’s words carry no message of shock or outrage at the suffering and terror being inflicted on Palestinian civilians, including the families and friends in Gaza of many Australians.”
Calls for ceasefire
Guterres warned that the fate of the entire region is hanging in the balance, and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Middle East to ease “the epic human suffering”.
“Too many lives – and the fate of the entire region – hang in the balance,” he said.
Oxfam also called for world leaders to have the courage to step in and force all parties into a ceasefire, warning that enabling a humanitarian corridor into Gaza would not be enough to stop civilian casualties and address the crisis.
UNICEF reiterated its urgent plea for an immediate cessation of hostilities, ensuring the protection of children from harm and facilitating the safe and timely access of humanitarian aid to children in need. Children account for more than half of the population in Gaza.
“Every child, everywhere deserves peace,” UNICEF said.
Experts have argued that the actions of both Israel and Hamas breach international humanitarian law, and thus constitute war crimes.
Speaking to the World Health Summit on 16 October, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was taking place at a time of conflict and crisis.
“The conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is an awful reminder of how quickly the health of millions of people can be put at risk. War will bring nothing but destruction and horror.”
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